Process of conditioning incoherent finely divided materials



106. COMPOSITIONS,

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COATING OR PLASTIC.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 iross Reference Examiner WILLLAM n. JEAVONS, or cnnvnmmn nnmnrs, Aunmrimn. .1. 'nmscnnxa, or

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This invention relates to a method of conditioning finely divided incoherent materials whereby these materials may be rendered available for use in the industrial arts. An

instance of such materials is barium peroxide which, as is well known, is ordinarily a finely divided incoherent powder. It has been proposed to use barium peroxide in the treatment of molten metaLsuch as steel, but it has been found impracticable to do so because of the fact that, when applied to the molten steel, it floats on the surface of the charge, the resultant reaction being so extremely rapid that only a small portion of the mass is affected thereby. Under ordinary conditions, the molten steel is covered with a coating of slag and, when barium peroxide in its ordinary form is introduced into a furnace containing such melted charge, it does not penetrate the slag coating and hence has no effect whatever upon the steel.

We have found that, by incorporatin (where necessary) a small proportion o barium oxide with the barium eroxid and in thorough admixture'me w 1th, and by thoroughly mixing with such mass a small quantity of cold water-in no greater quantity than is sary 0 convert the barium oxide into completely crystallized barium hydrate-an efiicient binder is formed whereby the mass mmune and compacted into an integrated body, such as a briquette. The addition of cold water does not affect the barium peroxide; but is pro duces, by reaction with the barium oxide, crystallized barium hydrate which forms a most effective binder and enables the mixture to be, compacted in the manner described. The barium hydrate acts as a setting agent, in addition to binding the mass, whereby a body molded as described retains its solidity and the barium peroxide retains its full strength, even where the bodies are kept in storage for a considerable length of time. Furthermore, when exposed to high temperatures, the bodies produced in the manner described do not disintegrate. When introduced into or applied to a mass of molten metal, the body containing barium peroxide 0 prepared in the manner described possesses 'not be integrated thereby.

Application filed. November 14, 1930. Serial Ro. 49!;,7 8Q.

suificient' density to be partially submerged in the molten metal below the slag line, thus enabling the barium peroxide to contact in a most etlicient manner with the molten metal. The reaction between :the molten metat and ""86 the barium peroxide takes place gradually, the decomposition proceeding from theoutside of the body inwardly and the body sinking into the molten metal as decomposition proceeds-in a manner similar to that which 00 occurs through the melting of ice in water. During this gradual decomposition, the interior of the body retains its strength or reactivity; and it is obvious that the period of reaction between the barium peroxide and 06- the molten metal is greatly prolonged to an extent and in a manner which will enable the barium peroxide to react most effectively with the impurities in the metal.

Whiletheuseofb II 0:0 and cementin at h a w g n .ue In t e conditionin of barium peroxide, it will 5'5 obvious that it may be used with beneficial results in the conditioning of other materials which are normally" in the form of finely divided incoherent powder. For instance, it has been beneficial in the. treatment of finely divided ores, carbon blacks, and lamp blacks, which arevery bulky and which offer great difiiculties in so transportation. It is, of course, obvious that materials that will be affected adversely by chemical reaction with barium oxide should However, our experiments show that it may be used with pigments and generally wherever the barium oxide will not setup any adverse chemical reaction with the material with which it is used. In each of the instances mentioned, the presence in the compacted bodies of ma- O0 terial of the small proportion of barium hydrate does not interfere with the intended use thereof.

In some cases, it is preferable to encase the v bodies thus formed in cases or cartridges, .5 preferably of sheet metal, in order to protect the bodies from erosion in transportation and in the rough handling to which they are subjected in mill practice. This is particularly true where the bodies are to be usedi "ngfO for the treatment of molten metal, where the cases or cartridges will be quickly melted away from the bodies or otherwise removed by the action of the heat thereon.

Having thus described our invention,

hat we claim is:

1. The process of conditioning incoherent finely divided substances which consists in adding to a mixture of the same and a small proportion of barium oxide, just sufficient cold water to convert the barium oxide into barium hydrate, and forming the resultant mass into one or more integrate bodies.

2. The process of conditioning barium peroxide for the treatment of molten metal which consists in forming a mixture of the same with a small proportion of barium oxide, adding sufiicient cold water to the mixture to convert the barium oxide into barium hydrate, and compressing the resultant mass into one or more integrate bodies.

3. The process of conditioning incoherent material reactive to molten metal which consists in forming a mixture of such material with a small igroportion of barium oxide,

adding just su cient cold water to the mixture to convert the barium oxide into barium hydrate, and compressing the resultant mass into one or more cartridges or casings which 1 will be removed by the heat of the molten metal.

4. The process of conditioning barium peroxide for the treatment of molten metal which consists in forming a mixture of the same with a small proportion of barium oxide, adding sufiicient cold water to the mixture to convert the barium oxide into barium hydrate, and compressing the resultant mass into one or more cartridges or casings capa- 4 ble of being removed by the action of the molten metal.

5. The process of conditioning barium peroxide for the treatment of molten metal -which consists in forming a mixture of the 4. same with a small proportion of barium oxide and cold Water and compressing the resultant mass into One or more integrate bodies.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix 5 our signatur WILLIAM R. JEAVON S. MAHLON J. RENTSCHLER. 

